Top 2027 MLB Free Agents to Watch: Chisholm, Skubal, and More This Season

The looming specter of free agency casts a long shadow over the 2026 MLB season, with players eager to secure lucrative contracts. This offseason witnessed nine players cashing in with deals exceeding $100 million, while nearly 20 others landed contracts averaging $20 million annually or more. Among those who reaped the rewards were standout fantasy baseball performers like Dylan Cease, Pete Alonso, Alex Bregman, Kyle Tucker, and Cody Bellinger. As the new season unfolds, several notable players will be playing for their next big payday, making them essential to watch in fantasy leagues.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. stands out as a true unrestricted free agent heading into 2027, currently earning just under $12 million. With another strong season in the Bronx, he could command a market value exceeding $20 million per year. Last year, Chisholm posted career highs with 31 home runs and 80 RBIs while swiping over 30 bases and finishing with an .813 OPS. The 28-year-old made his second All-Star appearance and ranked fourth in Wins Above Replacement (WAR) among second basemen at 4.2. Positioned in a powerful Yankees lineup, Chisholm is poised to replicate or surpass his impressive 2025 numbers, making him a consensus second-round pick in a relatively weak second base market.

Randy Arozarena, once a rising star, now finds himself in a critical season as he heads toward free agency. After being traded to the Mariners from Tampa Bay in 2024, Arozarena enjoyed a career-high 27 home runs last season, yet his performance has seen a decline since his 2020 breakout. Despite setting a new career mark with 191 strikeouts in 160 games and approaching his 30s, Arozarena remains motivated by the prospect of a new contract and the Mariners’ ambitions for a World Series run. As the 24th outfielder on Yahoo, he could still prove to be a valuable mid-round draft pick.

Alec Bohm’s journey has taken a turn, as he now faces a pivotal year with the Phillies. Following a promising 2024 season, where he hit 15 home runs and drove in 97 runs, Bohm’s 2025 was marred by injury, limiting him to 120 games and a drop in power numbers. However, his spring performance shows promise with three home runs in just 10 games. If he can regain his power and hit over 20 homers, Bohm may emerge as a sleeper pick in fantasy drafts, currently sitting at an average draft position of 196.4 on Yahoo.

On the pitching side, Tarik Skubal is positioned as the top starting pitcher in fantasy leagues, and his impending free agency looms large. As a two-time AL Cy Young winner, Skubal is expected to set the market for pitchers, potentially securing the largest contract in MLB history with an average annual value around $45 million. With the Detroit Tigers possibly considering a trade before the deadline, his performance this season will be closely monitored by both teams and fantasy managers alike.

The New York Mets bolstered their rotation by acquiring Freddy Peralta from the Brewers, where he enjoyed a breakout season with a career-high 17 wins and a sub-3.00 ERA. Set to pitch on Opening Day against the Pirates, Peralta has the potential to replicate his success in New York, aiming for over 170 innings and 200 strikeouts. With a strong offense backing him, he could be a significant contributor in the NL Cy Young race and offers great value as the 15th starting pitcher on Yahoo drafts.

David Bednar, the Yankees’ new closer, is another name to watch as he transitions from the Pirates to New York. After excelling with 10 saves and a 12.8 K/9 ratio in his brief stint with the Yankees, Bednar is poised to lead the American League in saves this season. Despite being drafted as the sixth relief pitcher on Yahoo, he presents an attractive option for fantasy managers looking for late-round value.

Honorable mentions include Adolis García, Brandon Lowe, Gleyber Torres, Luis Arráez, Taylor Ward, Trevor Rogers, Shane Bieber, Brady Singer, Pete Fairbanks, Bryan Abreu, and Casey Mize. As the 2026 season unfolds, these players will be under the spotlight, eager to demonstrate their worth ahead of free agency.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.